Ansco Memo

Introduction: The Ansco Memo at a Glance

The Ansco Memo is an American 35mm camera introduced around 1926-27, although the exact year is debated. It belongs in a collection of analog cameras, because it approaches miniature photography in its own way. Instead of a standard cassette, it takes a special cartridge made only by Ansco, holding negative motion-picture film.

The idea behind it is easy to grasp. Film travels vertically through the camera, just as it does in a movie camera, and every frame is half the size of the 24x36mm Leica format. That frame measures 18x23mm, and one cartridge delivers 50 exposures. Ansco's own booklet puts the appeal in a single line: "Fifty Pictures with One Fifty-cent Roll of Film".

Photographing with a very old camera is a different experience from using a modern body. Every picture starts with a decision about light, distance and timing, and that slower rhythm is a large part of why early cameras still attract people.

Design Roots and Historical Background

A camera built like a cine camera

The Memo borrows from motion-picture technology. The film path is vertical, and the advance is a claw mechanism like the one in a cine camera, rather than a sprocket system.

The earliest Memo had a varnished wood housing, which is why it is sometimes described as a box camera. Later versions were covered in leather, and a shutter release guard was added a few months after the leather covering appeared.

A format before the standard

The Memo arrived at a time when no common cassette existed. Standard 35mm cassettes were only standardised in 1934, so Ansco made its own system and its own cartridge. The camera and its film were designed as a pair.

The Memo could be fixed-focus or focusing. A July 1927 dealer advert offers it with a focusing f/3.5 or f/6.3 Bausch & Lomb anastigmat, or with a fixed-focus f/6.3 anastigmat.

Key Technical Highlights

Film, frame and advance

The special cartridge contains a strip of Ansco negative motion-picture film for 50 exposures, each 18x23mm. According to the booklet, the camera can be loaded in daylight, and an automatic dial on the front counts the exposures as you shoot.

Finder and shutter

Composition is handled by a direct-vision telescope finder, which the booklet describes as a spyglass finder. The shutter is set with a pointer and offers Time, Bulb, 1/100, 1/50 and 1/25 second, according to the manual.

• Format: 18x23mm frames, half the size of 24x36mm.
• Capacity: 50 exposures per Ansco cartridge.
• Film path: vertical, with a claw-based advance.
• Shutter: Time, Bulb, 1/100, 1/50 and 1/25 second.
• Finder: direct-vision telescope type, plus an exposure counter dial.

Modern-Day Use in 2026

Where the Memo excels

In 2026 the Memo is above all a historical object. It is a hands-on lesson in how cameras were built before the film format settled, and a talking point on a shelf or in a display case. Because its cartridge is so specific, it rewards curiosity more than convenience.

Use it for:

• Building a collection of early or unusual film formats.
• Learning how cine technology influenced still cameras.
• Display, study and photography history projects.
• Slow, deliberate composition, if you have a working example and suitable film.

Practical shooting tips

• Check that the shutter fires at each setting before you spend money on film.
• Hold the camera steadily and use a tripod for the slower settings and for Time exposures.
• Keep the exposure counter dial in view so you know how far through the cartridge you are.
• Judge exposure with a handheld light meter or careful observation of the light.

Buying and Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying used

Any camera from this period has had a long life, so inspect it carefully. Work through this short checklist:

• Look at the wood or leather covering for cracks, peeling and loose edges.
• Inspect the lens for haze, fungus, scratches and separation.
• Fire the shutter at every setting and listen for sticking or hesitation.
• Check that the finder is clear, and that the exposure counter dial moves.
• Look inside the film compartment for corrosion, mould and light leaks.

If the camera is a focusing version, check that the focusing action moves smoothly. Ask whether a cartridge or booklet comes with it.

Film, power and storage

The Memo is a mechanical camera, so the real question is film: it was made for Ansco's own cartridge, so think about this before buying if you intend to shoot it. Storage matters too, because a dry, ventilated place slows mould and protects the covering.

• Keep it in a cool, dry place with some air circulation.
• Avoid damp cellars and hot attics.
• Keep it away from direct sunlight.

Basic care and accessories

A few simple photography accessories go a long way with a camera of this age:

• A padded case or box to protect the body from knocks and dust.
• A soft microfiber cloth and a blower for the lens, used gently.
• A small tripod for Time and Bulb exposures.
• A handheld light meter for judging exposure.

Conclusion: A Cine Camera for Stills

The Ansco Memo is a fascinating piece of early miniature photography. A vertical film path, a claw advance, a dedicated cartridge and a frame half the size of the 24x36mm Leica format make it unlike almost anything that followed.

For a collector it offers character, history and a clear link to the movie camera. If you decide to buy one, inspect the body, lens and shutter with care, think about film before you plan to shoot, and enjoy it as a window into early camera design.

Ready to explore cameras like the Ansco Memo? Browse our curated selection of analog cameras and pair them with quality photography accessories at DutchThrift.com. You may also like our guides to the Ansco Cadet and the Ansco Clipper.

Sources: the original Ansco Memo instruction booklet (cover photo: Cover of the original Ansco Memo instruction manual); Ansco Memo on camera-wiki.org, text licensed under GFDL 1.3.